Sacramento daily record-union., 1887-08-13
THE PRETTY ORPHAN.

She's great deal too pretty" said Mrs.
Black, energetically twitching her needle
through the stocking she was darning.
Mr.. Black looked puzzled. He was an
excellent business man, but he did not un-
derstand the conditions of domestic diplo-
macy.
swell, my dear, that isn't her fault, is
it ?" said he.
Her fault? No. Who said it was ?"
snapped his wife. You don't understand,
Black p'
No, | suppose l DON'T" he returned
meekly. But | must confess think it's
rather hard to turn the poor girl adrift.
after you have formally adopted her out of
the asylum. And she is such a good girl,
too"
az thought it would be so nice to have
daughter" sighed Mrs. Black.
And wasn't it nice"
Yes, but never thought of her grow
ing up so pretty, and Frank falling in love
with her."
Wouldn't she make good little wife
for Frank ?''
Black, you talk like child Our bows
must marry rich. And Lila must 60
away"
"Where ?"
don't care anywhere, so that she
will not be a stumbling block in Franks
path. For have set my heart on Frank
marrying Priscilla Grant. She has prop
erty-she will be suitable match"
"Yes, but my DEAR" hesitated Mr. Black,
suppose your precautions come too late?
Suppose she has already learned to care
for Frank %
Then she must unlearn. that is all,
said Mrs. Black, sharply. Lila is nice
girl enough, but she must be taught to
know her place. / shall send her to Aunt
Agnew-she has written to me for some
sort of a companion, and / think it is
likely that Lila will meet her wishes and
ideas. At all events she will be gotten out
of Franks way. And Frank and Edward
must be our first consideration you know"
So Lila Redburn was called ina
dimpled, dark-eyed girl with coral-red
lips, and shy, bewitching way of look
ing at you from under her long eve
lashes, and told without much unnecessary
preamble that she was to be transferred to
the roof of Miss Abigail Agnew. her
adopted fathers aunt
She listened quietly; Lila was not one
of those who wear their hearts and tongues
upon their sleeves-but her poor little
heart sank down, down, like lump of
lead in her bosom. And that night she
cried herself to sleep.
- Mis- Abigail Agnew was sitting in her
curi0tIs little room that evening when
Lila Redbun was announced. 1t was
quaint woman, shriveled, ancient and
bowed over, with gold spectacles cleaning
before her eyes, and priceless yellow lace
quilted after an antique fashion around her
neck
Come in Lila, come in," said the old
lady. You see / know your name
Price" to the maid, bring the tea and
toast. You can't eat anything? Pshaw,
you must eat :. Pm not one to be trifed
with, and | say you must eat. What made
my niece Black send you away? Naughty
girl, eh ?"
Lila colored scarlet and dropped her
lids before the sharp, jetty fire of the old
lady's eyes.
hope not, ma'am. / tried to do my
best Il don't know exactly why she
sent me here"
w AhShf Sstid -tilsS [tSIlGN, pouring
the tea out of chased silver teapot into
a china set as delicate and transparent as
giided egg-shells. You were too pretty,
my dear"
81, ma am ?"
But we won't discuss the question any
further, my dear" said the old woman.
Drink your tea and go to bed. To-mor-
row we Will commence our duties"
,III1 RnHhI1rra h.a,.
new home. Miss Agnew was peculiar. but
there was a kernel of real honest kindness
beneath the dry and uninviting husk of
her outward manner, and Lila soon con-
trived to penetrate to it. Yet she sighed
often-and Miss Agnew knew that she was
not happy.
Lila" she said one day, suddenly,
do you want to go back to my nephew
Black's?"
Lila burst into tears, and made her sim
pie confession in one syllable.
Yesp
Why? Tell me honestly and truly,
my darling" patting the blooming cheek
with her withered hand "Did you love
Frank Black p
Frank? o, Miss Agnew, no. wouldn't
care-only for Nedr
Ned, eh," said the old lady, scratch
ing her nose with the sticks of her pearl
fan.
Ned, know, L ought not to think of
him" went on Lila, hiding her face on
Miss AbigaiPs lap, because 1 am only a
poor orphan and his parents are proud and
ambitious of him, as it is right and natural
they should be. | don't complain pray,
pray, dear Miss Agnew, don't think Pm
complaining but it's hard p
Does he love you, my dear?"
He never told me so" faltered Lila,
taking refuge behind the long lashes.
Does he love you, say" reiterated the
old lady.
Yes, | think he does" confessed Lila.
Well, it's n queer world we live in"
said Miss Agnew, apparently addressing
herself to the parrot, "when love can't
hold its own against money. Get your hat,
Lila, and Wen go for a walk | can't
stay in the house when Pm irritated in
my mind
Three days afterward Mrs. Black re-
ceived a short note from Miss Abigail
Agnew:
DEAR MICE: You have not been to see Lila
since she came here. She is good sffeetionate
girl, and think she feels your neglect. But
write particularly to say that have concluded
70 adopt daughter of my own and settle all my
little property upon her. IL Little property r
calculated Nus Black, with convulsiye gasp
and.she is worth quarter ot.a million."l Ny
lawyer thinks il is de u to all my relatives to
notify them of this fact, so no more at present
From yours, very truly,
ANN ABIGAIL AGx Ew
One minute Mrs. Black sat twisting the
note around and around in her fingers,
while her husband drew long, low whistle
and then she had resolved upon her
tactics.
Ned must go and see his aunt she
declared
"There spoke the ~ observed
her husband. You want to make
match between Ned and this new whim of
Aunt Agnew'S. ] dare say she's a little
girl of 6.'
q There is, at least, chance" said Mrs. |
Black, decidedly " He can make an ex-
cuse of bringihs-.ilia home to visit u.s."
I'd like to see dear little Lila again.
said the old gentleman. Nobody thinks
about airing the newspaper and warming
my slippers row that Lila is gone"
" She was good girl enough said Mrs